🔵16.03.2022
21:57 Swiss Internet Bank Dukascopy Bank helps Russian citizens circumvent sanctions, “Schemes” investigation (Radio Liberty) found out.
The Swiss Internet bank Dukascopy Bank allows citizens of the Russian Federation to open a multi-currency account, which, inter alia, provides access to plastic or virtual cards of international payment systems Visa / Mastercard. By ordering such a card, the bank promises, you can “pay for goods and services wherever Visa / Mastercard is accepted.”
19:12 Head of Donetsk military administration: The Russians are deliberately striking at civilians! These scum seek to physically destroy Mariupol and the people of Mariupol, which have long been a symbol of our resistance.
Today, they launched an air strike on the Drama Theater and the Neptune Pool. According to preliminary data, several hundred Mariupol residents were hiding in the Drama Theater. What is with them now is unknown, as the entrance to the bomb shelter is blocked by debris. The Russians are already lying, as if the headquarters of the Azov Regiment were there. But they themselves are well aware that there were only civilians.
Similarly, only civilians were in “Neptune”. Now there are pregnant women and women with children under the rubble. This is pure terrorism!
It is currently impossible to determine the number of victims of these shellings, let alone the extent of the destruction.
Besides, today the Russian scums fired with BM-21 GRADs at the motorcade going from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia. There are 5 wounded, including one child.
16:17 Ukrenergo National Energy Company: The power systems of Ukraine and Moldova are fully synchronised with the Continental European network. The relevant decision was approved by the association of system operators ENTSO-E on 11 March 2022. Physical operations to interconnect the power systems were performed on 16 March.
“This is a historic event that today has become something more than just a guarantee for the development of Ukrainian and European energy sectors. This step will give Ukraine the opportunity to receive electricity if the aggressor continues to destroy our power infrastructure, and thus to save our power system. We are sincerely grateful to our European partners for their great support and assistance during these difficult times. We have been preparing for this event for five years and have ensured the technical readiness of the Ukrainian power system for the synchronisation. Our power grid proved its resilience by working steadily in an autonomous mode during Russia’s military aggression. After the war, this synchronisation will open wide opportunities for both Ukraine and Europe to develop the electricity market, switch to renewable energy sources and strengthen Europe’s energy security,” said Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, Chairman of the Management Board at Ukrenergo.
14:47 Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language: The Russian occupiers continue the policy of genocide – linguocide. In Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, which have just been occupied by Russian troops, the enemies continue the policy of de-Ukrainization of educational institutions. Enemies report the resumption of the educational process in schools, but say that subjects such as “Ukrainian language”, “Ukrainian literature” and “history of Ukraine” will not be studied.
In addition, Russian criminals are deliberately continuing to shell Ukrainian television towers in order to stop the broadcasting of our broadcasters, seizing TV centers to further launch Russian television.
13:38 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Operational information on 12.00, 16.03.2022 regarding the Russian invasion:
The twenty-first day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the russian military invasion continues.
Russian occupation forces continue strategic offensive operation against Ukraine. The tasks of defeating the groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and establishing control over the left-bank part of Ukraine have not been fulfilled. Partially reached the goal in the Donetsk direction, stopped in the Mykolayiv direction.
The enemy is trying to move additional reserves of the Eastern Military District.
Due to heavy losses in the south, the command of the aggressor country’s armed forces refused to strengthen the grouping of troops in Polissya with additional reserve units from the 5th Combined Arms Red Banner Army.
The enemy did not carry out offensive operations in the Volyn direction. Air reconnaissance with the use of the Orlan-10 UAV was noted.
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus plan to rotate units that cover the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
The enemy is trying to resume offensive operations in the direction of Vyshgorod. During the day the enemy tried to advance towards Kyiv. He was unsuccessful and moved on to defense.
The enemy was stopped in the northern direction.
The occupiers are trying to gain a foothold on the achieved frontiers, are regrouping troops and trying to restore the combat effectiveness of their units.
The enemy does not abandon attempts to capture the city of Chernihiv, however, does not conduct active offensive operations. He regroups troops and tries to organize logistical support, but has no success.
In the direction of Brovary there is a movement of small groups of occupiers’ equipment within the occupied area of the settlements Bohdanivka and Velyka Dymerka.
Air reconnaissance of the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is carried out with the use of UAVs “Orlan-10”.
In the Slobozhansky direction, the occupiers are trying to gain a foothold on the occupied frontiers, regrouping troops and replenishing stocks of ammunition and fuel and lubricants.
The enemy continues to blockade the cities of Sumy, Lebedyn and Okhtyrka. The enemy does not carry out active offensive actions. The occupiers continue unsuccessful attempts to block Kharkiv.
In the Donetsk and Tavriya directions, as a result of assaults in the Popasna area, the enemy suffered losses and was forced to withdraw for regrouping.
In the area of Severodonetsk, the occupiers conducted reconnaissance by fighting, had no success, trying to gain a foothold on the eastern and western outskirts of the city of Rubizhne. At the same time, according to available information, on March 15, enemy aircraft fired on the positions of their troops near the village of Smolyaninovo.
In the Volnovakha direction, the occupiers are trying to develop an offensive in the direction of the settlement of Velyka Novosilka.
In the Kryvyi Rih direction, the enemy is trying to resume the offensive in the direction of the settlements of Velyka Kostroma, Mala Kostroma and Kryvyi Rih. As a result of the fire damage inflicted by units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy was stopped, suffered losses and retreated to unfavorable borders.
Enemy aircraft continue to launch missile and bomb strikes on military and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Sumy and Donetsk oblasts, actively using the airfield network of the Republic of Belarus and the occupied Crimea.
In the Black Sea operational zone, warships shelled the coast in the areas of the settlements of Lebedivka, Sanzheika, Zatoka and Bilenke.
The Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine draws the attention of military experts, bloggers and active users of social networks to the inexpediency of immediate demonstration of the consequences of hostilities, trophies, and other information that may be used in future defense operations.
13:23 European Pravda:
Economy Minister Guy Parmelin approved the imposition of sanctions on more than 200 additional individuals and entities in connection with serious violations of international law by Russia in Ukraine, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research said in a statement.
“Switzerland’s list of sanctioned individuals and entities now fully mirrors that of the EU,” it said. “A further 197 individuals are now subject to financial sanctions and travel restrictions and 9 additional entities are now subject to financial sanctions.”
Switzerland announced it condemned Ukraine “in the strongest way” after Russia attacked Ukraine.
13:17 Ukrinform:
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine states that there are no Nazis in power in Ukraine. “We look at this issue from our professional point of view on the number of cases of anti-Semitism and in general on the situation with this phenomenon in Ukraine,” the community said.
13:14 Ukrainska pravda:
On Thursday, March 17, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the German Bundestag. This was announced by Deputy Head of the President’s Office Andriy Sybiga during an information telethon.
13:08 Office of the President of Ukraine:
Zelenskyy: “We are stepping up work to bring the invaders to justice. There must be an international tribunal. And it will be. For everything they did against Ukraine. Against our people. For every act of terrorism of Russian troops on the territory of our state.”
The investigative group of the International Criminal Court has started working in Ukraine, which together with Ukrainian law enforcement officers is already collecting all the evidence of war crimes of the invaders on the territory of Ukraine. The President had a conversation with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague Karim Khan, who has already arrived in Ukraine.
12:59 State Emergency Service of Ukraine:
At 10:42 in the Vyshhorod district as a result of shelling there was a fire in the production and warehouse building of bread products. At 12:42 the fire was localized. According to preliminary information, there are no victims.
12:55 Bucha City Council:
Civilians, abducted by Russians on March 16, were released. They all had their SIM cards confiscated.
12:52 Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
The so-called “police” of the Russian occupation army hand over the bodies. Of the documents, the relatives of the victims are issued only a death certificate and a burial permit. There are no documents on where, how and under what circumstances they died. Relatives are explained that no payments for the deaths of those mobilized from the “LPR” and “DPR” are provided, even with a Russian passport. To hide the real number of dead, the occupiers are using the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant to burn the corpses of local “recruits” and volunteers who came from Russia. The exact number of people burned is unknown. Forced recruitment to the 1st Army Corps of the Russian Federation continues in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region.
12:46 Suspilne
In Chernihiv, in one of the residential districts, Russian troops fired on people standing in a queue for bread. This was reported by the correspondent of Suspilne from the scene. According to her, the shelling took place on March 16 at about 10 am. The shelling killed at least 10 civilians.
12:37 Maksym Marchenko / Odesa Regional State Administration:
12:30 Ukraine 24:
Russian hackers broke the news feed on Ukraine 24 TV channel and launched a fake “statement” of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surrender. He immediately recorded a video message and offered the Russians to lay down their arms.
12:28 Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
“We urge the whole world to help Ukraine replenish the funds for the restoration of our state. We are grateful for the help and support that dozens of countries and millions of people around the world are already providing to Ukraine, “said Denys Shmyhal.
12:26 Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine:
The head of National police Ihor Klymenko reported: Explosives technicians of the National Police of Ukraine neutralized more than 350 unexploded ammunition dropped by the Russian occupiers.
12:25 State Emergency Service of Ukraine:
12:12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine:
Commentary on the 8th anniversary of the illegal “referendum” in Crimea: On March 16, 2014, the Russian Federation, seizing power by force in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, held a so-called “referendum on the status of Crimea.”
12:02 Suspilne:
The Russian military began shelling Mariupol from the Sea of Azov. Adviser to the Minister of the Armed Forces Vadym Denysenko announced this on air of Suspilne.
12:00 State Emergency Service of Ukraine:
The Russian invaders once again wanted to capture Rubizhne, Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in the Luhansk region. The enemy continues to cynically fire on civilians. Dozens of houses were on fire in Severodonetsk, Rubizhne and Lysychansk during the night. Many civilians were killed and injured. The shelling does not subside. Since there is no ceasefire, there will be no humanitarian corridor today. Russian troops fire on convoys of buses and gathering places where evacuations were planned.
11:59 Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov:
«Discussed joint issues with Minister of Defense of Japan Nobuo Kishi in the context of Russian aggressive policy & de-occupation of the territories occupied by Russia: Donbas, Crimea, and Northern Territories, etc. I also thanked our partners for their support of Ukraine with the humanitarian aid.»
11:46 The Wall Steet Journal:
Hours after Russia invaded Ukraine, control of an investment vehicle long linked in public filings to oligarch Roman Abramovich and used to hold stakes in renewable energy and tech startups in the U.S., U.K., and Israel was moved to one of his business associates, according to securities filings.
11:44 Ministry of Health of Ukraine:
11:34 State Border Guard Service of Ukraine:Over 16 thousand people came to Ukraine on March 15. Almost 13 thousand of them are Ukrainians, the prevailing majority of which are men who are ready to defend the country. In general, approximately 273 thousand Ukrainians returned since the beginning of open-armed aggression towards Ukraine.
11:21 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: The operational situation on the diplomatic front as of 10:00, March 16
For the 21st day in a row, Ukraine has been fiercely resisting Russia’s armed aggression on all fronts.
Ukrainian diplomacy has won another battle — the EU has approved another package of sanctions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba: “It was a difficult positional battle for our diplomacy. But Ukraine won it. Another destructive shock of the economy and self-esteem of Russia. I am grateful to all EU Member States for this decision.”
First of all, sanctions will hit the energy sector of the Russian Federation, which fuels the occupation. The Russian state-owned company Rosneft-Aero, as well as several military-industrial enterprises, were restricted.
● Deputinization of the world
- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe unanimously decided to exclude Russia. The 216 delegates voted for it. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe must now vote finally.
● Financial Aid
US President Joe Biden has signed a law on public funding that provides Ukraine with “historic” funding of $ 13.6 billion
- Isolation of the Russian Federation
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has changed the venue of the 2022 World Chess Olympics — instead of Russia, the competition will take its place in India
Slack’s corporate messenger began deleting Russian users’ chats without warning. For example, this happened to the team of Sberbank
Xerox has suspended supplies to Russia because of the war against Ukraine
The American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is stopping the export of medicines to Russia but will ensure that patients with cancer and diabetes receive their medicaments
- Humanitarian aid
The United States is providing more than $ 186 million in additional humanitarian aid to support Ukrainians who have to desolate their homes because of the war in Russia
Another lot of Starlink has arrived in Ukraine
The staff of the Klaipeda State Seaport Administration in Lithuania handed over first aid kits and thermal clothing to support Ukrainian ports
The Estonian Rescue Board sent humanitarian aid of 30,000 euros to the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Lviv Oblast: 2 ZIL fire trucks.
11:03 Office of the President of Ukraine:
As of March 16, the Ukrainian side has not received a response on the approval of humanitarian corridors, and so far there are no guarantees for the safe evacuation of residents of settlements affected by the Russian invasion. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk.
11:01 Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine:
Juvenile prosecutors: 103 children died due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.
At least 5 children die in shelling in Ukraine every day. As of the morning of March 16, 2022, 103 children died and more than 100 were injured in the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. Children in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zhytomyr oblasts suffered the most.
Bombing and shelling damaged more than 400 educational institutions, 59 of which were completely destroyed. The largest number of destructions was in the following regions: Donetsk – 119, Kharkiv – 50, Mykolaiv – 30, Sumy – 28, Kyiv – 35, Kherson – 21. In the city of Kyiv, 24 institutions were damaged.
Eleven medical institutions and 3 rehabilitation centers were shelled, including for children with disabilities.
These data are not conclusive due to the inability to inspect the sites where active hostilities are taking place and in the temporarily occupied territories.
10:44 State Service of Special Communication of Ukraine:
The occupiers fired on the TV tower of the Broadcasting, Radiocommunications & Television Concern in Vinnytsia. Broadcasting in the city is temporarily out of order.
9:57 Chairman of the Public Council at the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management Oleksandr Syrota:
Russian military plunders the Chernobyl zone, takes away overalls and computer equipment.
9:33 Bucha City Council:
Russian invaders abducted six people who were in the building of the Bucha City Council and provided assistance to residents. Among the captured are City Council employees and volunteers.
9:10 Ukrzaliznytsia and head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration Oleksandr Starukh:
As a result of enemy shelling, the infrastructure of Zaporizhzhya-2 station was damaged. Staff and passengers were not injured. In particular, tracks, catenary, windows in buildings and suburban trains that stood at the station without passengers were damaged.
The second missile landed in the area of the botanical garden.
09:00 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02 to 16.03 were approximately:
personnel – about 13800,
tanks ‒ 430,
APV ‒ 1375,
artillery systems – 190,
MLRS – 70,
anti-aircraft warfare systems – 43,
aircraft – 84,
helicopters – 108,
vehicles – 819,
boats / cutters – 3,
fuel tanks – 60,
UAV operational-tactical level – 11,
special equipment – 10.
Data are being updated. The calculation is complicated by the high intensity of hostilities.
08:22 European Western Balkans:
It is noted that Serbia has complied with the decision of the Council of the European Union to continue restrictive measures against Yanukovych and the former leadership of Ukraine in 2010-2014.
The relevant Declaration of the High Representative of the European Union was registered on the website of the Council of the EU on March 12, 2022.
08:00 State Emergency Service of Ukraine:
07:35 Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine:
The law prohibits the press, television and radio from justifying, recognizing legitimate, denying the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine in 2014, in particular by presenting Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine as “internal conflict”, “civil conflict”, “civil war”, denial of temporary occupation parts of the territory of Ukraine.
It is prohibited to glorify persons who carried out Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine in 2014, representatives of both armed groups of the Russian Federation and armed gangs and groups of mercenaries, in particular by defining them as “insurgents”, “militias”, “polite military people”.
The law also provides for the possibility of terminating the activities of parties, religious and public organizations in Ukraine aimed at eliminating Ukraine’s independence, changing the constitutional order, violating its sovereignty or territorial integrity, promoting war or justifying Russia’s actions as an aggressor.
06:45 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Operational information on 06.00, 16.03.2022
The twenty-first era of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the russian military invasion began.
The state, position and nature of the actions of the defense forces have not changed significantly during the last day. The Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to inflict devastating blows on groups of occupying troops in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and, in some areas, to counterattack.
According to the results of the previous day, due to the actions of the air defense of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, three planes (two of them – Su-34) were destroyed. In addition, one helicopter, three operational-tactical UAVs and two cruise missiles were shot down. Additional information is currently being clarified.
Air Force aircraft continued to launch missile and bomb strikes on ground targets. Nine air strikes were carried out on columns of equipment and clusters of occupying troops.
The occupying forces continue to launch missile and bomb strikes on the infrastructure and densely populated areas of Ukrainian cities.
The enemy continues to bear losses on retreats in certain areas. The main efforts of the occupiers are focused on consolidating and maintaining previously occupied borders and defense areas.
05:24 Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denys Monastyrskyi:
It will take several years to demine Ukrainian territory after the war with Russia.
“Therefore, colleagues are already preparing such assistance – a large-scale landing of rescuers from all countries, the European Union in particular, and the United States and Britain to help during this period,” – stressed Monastyrskyi.
01:57 Reuters, AP:
U.S. Senate unanimously condemns Putin as war criminal.
“All of us in this chamber joined together, with Democrats and Republicans, to say that Vladimir Putin cannot escape accountability for the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor ahead of the vote.
01:40 Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal (press statement with the Prime Ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia):
Ukraine’s losses due to Russia’s invasion amount to $ 565 billion. These are the funds that will be needed to restore Ukraine – both at the expense of reparations by Russia and at the expense of Ukrainian partners.
01:30 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:Russia has already lost almost 40% of its troops in the war against Ukraine.
